Out and about in Smithville, Marshallville Talk about the bond, whether pro or con, found in al

Sunday

Feb 21, 2010 at 4:06 AM

By RACHEL JACKSON

Staff Writer

GREEN DISTRICT -- Outside of formal meetings, in area businesses, reaction to the bond issue is mixed.

A number of residents, business owners and their employees, and alumni expressed concern Tuesday about the proposal to build a two-facility, single-site campus in Smithville, replacing the high school, middle school and elementary in Smithville and the elementary in Marshallville while retaining the fieldhouse in Smithville.

The proposal goes on the ballot in May, in the form of a 4.75-mill, 37-year bond request, which is estimated to cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $145 a year and generate $12.95 million toward the cost of the project. If the bond issue is approved, Ohio School Facilities Commission will contribute $22.9 million and will guide the district through the project.

However, in keeping with OSFC project timelines, exact construction blueprints will not be drawn up until a bond issue is approved. In the meantime, approximate square footage has been released based on enrollment projections.

For Justin Carr, a MES alumnus and current district resident, that's not enough. He'd like to see more information about which programs, such as vo-ag or fine arts, will be provided dedicated space.

"It would be much easier to vote for it if we knew what we're going to get," Carr said.

He likened the process to handing a contractor money to build a house but allowing the contract to choose the design. The district should be willing to invest in engineering to provide plans upfront, he said.

"If you want the community to invest that much money, you might need to spend a little money for us to approve it," Carr said.

Several people voiced concern over the potential loss of a school in Marshallville.

"I would be in favor (of the bond request) if they kept a school in the village," Rich Stoll said.

Viola Caskey, who works at Marshallville Packing Co., grew up in Green and raised her children in the district, said although "you can't ask for a better district," the timing isn't good. Her primary concern, she said, is financial, because so many people are experiencing financial hardship.

"I have never voted against a levy before ... but I will vote against this one. Where are people going to get it?" Caskey said.

The district should have been planning and saving for a construction project years ago, she said.

"They've probably had 50 years of knowing this was coming to a head," Caskey said.

Likewise, business owner Russell Clinton said with business being down and finances tight, new taxes aren't a good plan.

"The idea of adding more taxes doesn't sit well," Clinton said.

Business owner Terry Tucker said he's heard opinions on both sides of the issue.

"I don't have an ax to grind either way, other than I grew up in Marshallville and want to see it prosper," Tucker said.

Under Laurie Parrish-Storm's principalship, MES had a reputation as one of the best schools around, he said, a sentiment also voiced by several others in the village. The assumption is the building would be demolished, which would be "a really bad thing for this community," but the reality is the facility is set up to be a school and nothing else, he said.

"It might make economic sense for the school system. What sense does it make for a small town?" Tucker said.

With all the infrastructure work going on in the village, from park projects to sanitary sewer system upgrades, Marshallville is a pretty good place to live, but closure of the school would negatively impact that, he said.

"We need to look at schools being the center of the community, not an adjunct," Tucker said.

Barber Scott Blair said the issue has united the town in a way he's never seen before.

"This is one of the few times that everybody who comes in here is on the same bandwagon. This is bringing the town together more than anything else in my 30 years here," Blair said.

The economy is tough enough without taxing people more, and many people are "fed up," he said.

"I think what it comes down to is Marshallville feels (school officials) trying to cram something down our throats," Blair said.

In Smithville, sentiment is more varied. Like Caskey, alumnus Dave Schrock said the district should have seen the need years ago.

"It was ancient when I went there. I can't understand, with today's technology -- these schools aren't equipped for anything and you can only do so much with paint," Schrock said.

He hopes the potential closure of MES doesn't "jinx the thing and divide the vote." Many schools bus all students to a central location, and Green's proposal is no different, he said.

"My opinion is people would be crazy not to go for it. There's no place in the world we're going to get two-thirds of the bill paid by the state. Let's get back some of the state's money we've paid in," Schrock said. "... They've got to look at what we're getting."

Carli Gasser, of the class of 2008, said new facilities are needed and the buildings are "pretty rundown."

Barbershop owner Don Sax gives the bond issue a 50-50 chance based on what his customers are saying. Many folks are worried about higher taxes, and particularly whether additional operating funds would be needed, he said. And "everybody wants to keep their own school," he said.

"Seems like the younger people want it, the older people don't want it. Seems like what's going to decide the issue is Marshallville," Sax said. "... If it goes through, it's going to be a close call."

Back in Marshallville, township Trustee Don Grimes sought to take a peacemaking role.

"I understand the significance of the stated dollars, the 65 percent (state grant), but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. I think the district needs to look at replacing some buildings but I don't think they can do it all at once," Grimes said. "It has become a very passionate issue."

If not for OSFC minimum enrollment requirements, closing MES probably wouldn't even be considered, he said. Thanks to open enrollment, Green has a net gain of 70 students.

"And you know some of those kids are coming from districts with new buildings," he said.

"If this bond issue doesn't pass, I don't think we should drop it. I think we should look for solutions to address our aging buildings," Grimes said.

Reporter Rachel Jackson can be reached at 330-287-1632 or e-mail rjackson@the-daily-record.com.

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